Leif
Pandemonium reigns until Dani and Emil head to the hospital in the back of my car with Elton at the
wheel. Once they’re gone, Layla gently directs party attendees to remain, eat more cake, and enjoy
themselves for another hour or two.
My mother catches me watching her and arches a brow at me. “You’re sniffing at her like a dog in
heat, Leif. It’s not like you.”
I stiffen. She’s right. It’s not like me, and it’s completely inappropriate. I should be detached and
professional with Layla, just like I am with all my other staff.
Then again, I don’t take any other members of my staff into the side room and bend them over the
back of a sofa.
“She’s a remarkable young woman,” my mother continues, pensive.
Freezing, I r eplay my mother’s words to make sure I heard her right. Then I clear my throat. “She is.”
“Your great-aunt told me she organized this entire party within a couple of days.”
“It’s impressive,” I answer, unable to say more than a couple of words at a time. My mother is
watching Layla, and a de ep feeling of discomfort steals over me.
Layla is my little secret. She’s the dark desire I ke ep tucked away, the woman who bleeds through all
the boundaries I’ve set for myself.
But my mother of all people—a woman who is as exacting as she is elegant—looks at Layla and
seems to see everything I do. Someone beautiful and intelligent and... remarkable.
My mother surveys my living room like it’s her kingdom. Great-Aunt Hilda has her gnarled hand on
Marcus’s forearm, her head bent near his. My friend meets my gaze across the room and gives me a wry
grin over my great- aunt’s head.
In the opposite corner, Isla’s ballet friends are giggling around the cake trolley. Parents hover, with
fathers sitting around tables while they sip beers and mothers gossiping across from them. It’s amazing
how similar adulthood is to middle school.
Like a moth to a flame, my gaze moves to Layla once more. She’s picking up plates from a table,
swe eping up cake crumbs and gathering empty glasses. When the caterer says something, Layla lets out a
laugh.
A strange, sharp pain passes through my chest at the sound of her laughter. It makes everything inside
me expand and collapse at the same time—then my mother clicks her tongue.
“Get a grip, Leif.” “Mother, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Before she can answer, my
phone rings. It’s Emil. “Dani’s having my baby,” he says when I answer the phone. “Right now.”
“I know, Emil. I was there when her water broke. It happened in my living room, remember?”
“I’m freaking out, man.” “You already have two kids.” “I know! But you know how it feels. You
were there when your daughter was born.”
It takes all my self-control to ke ep my face steady. I was there, yes. I watched Isla come into the
world, her red, scrunched face showing everyone just how angry she was about the interruption. It was the
best moment of my life, shortly followed by the worst.
Emil lets out a breath, and I hear Dani’s voice in the background. He says something I can’t hear, then
brings the phone back to his ear. “Dani’s hospital bag is packed, but I left it at the apartment. The baby
wasn’t supposed to come for another week. I gave my staff the day off, and my mother’s out of the city.
You’re the closest one to the apartment. Would you mind going to get it? How are Talia and Francis? Do
you mind watching them for a bit longer?”
I glance at the pack of feral children still swarming the cake table. Talia has a protective arm around
Francis’s shoulders, as usual, and my own daughter is bouncing excitedly in front of them. “Your kids are
fine. Marcus mentioned he was babysitting his niece tonight. I’ll ask if he has room for a couple more. I’ll
be there soon. Text me your room number.” I hang up the phone and turn to my mother. “Duty calls. My
best friend is freaking out about being a father.”
My mother rolls her eyes. “Men. Fine, go. I’ll make sure Isla stays out of trouble.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I give her a kiss on the cheek and head to the pack of children. Isla’s at the eye of the
storm, as usual, and she squeals in delight when she sees me. Jumping into my arms, she wraps herself
around me.
“This is the best birthday ever, Daddy! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
My heart gives another lurch. To see Isla so ecstatic about something so simple—a party in our living
room— makes me realize that I haven’t given my daughter enough time. I’ve seen her every day, but I’ve
been so caught up in making this real estate business work that I’ve lost sight of my own family.
I heard Emil a few minutes ago overcome with emotion because he’s going to be a new dad, and I
need to remember what a privilege that is. When Isla was born, her mother handed her to me and walked
away, and I made a commitment. My daughter would be my world.
When I put her down, I catch a sweet, feminine scent and turn to see Layla at my elbow. She smiles.
“I just got a text from Dani with all the things she forgot to pack in her hospital bag. She told me you were
heading over to her place; do you want the list or would you like me to come help pack everything up?”
“Come with me,” I answer before I can think clearly. But even if I’d given myself time to think
clearly, I’m not sure I would have said anything different.
She smiles softly, nodding. “Should I kick everyone out?” Isla gives a little plaintive squeak, and I put
my hand on my daughter’s head. “My mom and Hilda can hold down the fort. They can stay as long as
they like. Let me go talk to Marcus about babysitting.”
“I’ll grab my jacket,” Layla says, then kneels in front of Isla to give her one last happy birthday hug.
I watch my daughter’s face break into a bright smile. When she pulls away, she puts her hands on
Layla’s shoulders. “This was the best birthday ever,” she tells Layla solemnly. “I want you to plan every
party from now until forever!”
Layla laughs, gives Isla one last hug, then nods at me and heads for the closet to grab her coat and
bag. With a final few words to Marcus, who agrees to take on Isla as well as Emil’s kids for a few hours,
then a polite goodbye for my mother, my great-aunt, and a few other guests, I follow her to the front door
and find Elton waiting outside, already briefed and waiting to take us to Emil’s place.
So, for the second time today, I find myself in the back seat of my car with Layla by my side—and
there’s nowhere I’d rather be.
Babies bring out the best and worst emotions in people. I’m in a hospital waiting room with a small
group of close friends, waiting for Dani to bring her first child into the world. The atmosphere is tense and
jubilant and worried and exultant, the air a thick soup of emotion. For no reason that I can explain, I find
myself drifting close to Layla. We sit next to each other on hard hospital chairs and somehow her fingers
end up intertwined with mine, her hand clasped on my knee.
Her touch isn’t electric and all-consuming like it was in the TV room at the party. This feels
comforting. Like I’m home.
The tired lines of her face are back now that the thrill of the party is over. She slumps on the chair and
in the sixth hour of waiting, ends up falling asle ep with her head on my shoulder. I listen to her breathing
and feel strangely... at peace.
Hours later, when it becomes obvious the baby isn’t coming anytime soon, Emil convinces us to head
home.
“The doctors say it’ll be a while. Dani doesn’t want to take any Pitocin to bring on any stronger
contractions yet, and the doctor agreed to wait and see if things start moving on their own. You two
should head out. I’ll call you when the baby gets here.”
“Let me know if you need anything,” Layla says, squeezing Emil’s arm. He turns and wraps her in a
tight hug, and a wave of heat and anger washes over me at the sight of Layla in another man’s arms.
I’m... jealous? Of my best friend? Whose fiancée is literally in the other room having his baby?
Maybe my blue balls have sucked all the blood from my brain and I’m no longer capable of rational
thought.
Shaking my head, I move to give Emil a hug of my own. Then Layla and I drift down the hall toward
the elevator, and I glance at her. “Marcus agreed to babysit Isla overnight since she’s already asle ep,” I
tell her. “What do you say we go get a celebratory drink before I drop you off at home?”
There’s a moment of hesitation. I see the wheels turning in her mind, the doubt screaming at her to
refuse. Which she should, of course. I’m her boss—or I was, up until the end of today’s workday. We
should just go our s eparate ways.
Emotions are high today. From the pure joy of Isla’s party to the heated kiss—and more—we shared,
to the long labor that isn’t over for Dani yet, I feel strung out and on edge, and the only thing that will
make it better is having a quiet drink with a beautiful woman.
“Sure,” Layla finally says to the beat of my lurching heart. “One drink won’t hurt.”